Influence of batteries weight on electric automobile performance

Abstract

Abstract. Modern electric automobiles tend to have greater battery capacities. Battery packs with an average capacity of 16-22 kWh were used at the initial stage of manufacturing serial electric vehicles. A number of new models of electric vehicles are equipped with batteries, the capacity of which exceeds 30 kWh, which can result in a significant increase in the basic weight of the electric vehicle. Any increase in the weight can lead to an increase in energy consumption per km travelled. The present research developed a methodology for determining the range and dynamic parameters of electric vehicles depending on changes in the basic weight of the vehicles. The present research also calculated the effect of changes in the weight for various serial electric automobiles.Keywords: battery weight, electric automobile range, battery capacity, energy consumption, electric automobile dynamics. IntroductionDue to the need to reduce CO 2 emissions, the EU's climate protection programmes introduce support for alternative energy vehicles and related infrastructure. Electric automobiles are one of the kinds of alternative energy vehicles. Even though the first electric automobiles emerged along with internal combustion vehicles, i.e. more than 110 years ago, the electric automobiles have not become popular. The key reason that prevented electric automobiles from being broadly introduced was their heavy batteries and the relatively limited autonomy per charge. The reason of their relatively limited autonomy was the relatively low density of energy stored in the batteries, compared with the amount of energy available in liquid fuel. Electric automobiles were referred to many times during the evolution of auto transport, yet they were usually manufactured in small experimental series and were mainly custom-made.First hybrid technology automobiles were introduced at the beginning of the 21 st century, and later electric automobiles appeared as well. However, the key disadvantage of electric automobiles, just like it was 110 years ago, was the relatively heavy battery packs that did not allow considerably increasing the travel range of the electric automobiles. A lot of funds were invested in the fields of science related to the development of battery technologies for electric automobiles; however, at present, no very light and cheap batteries that, in terms of the weight and energy capacity, are equivalent to the fuel tank of internal combustion automobiles have been designed. For this reason, the buyers of electric automobiles need to choose the automobiles meeting the necessary operational conditions, one of which is the travel range per charge. An essential aspect in purchasing an electric automobile is the price of it [1].Research on the effects of the weight of batteries of an electric automobile and of the total weight of the electric automobile on its performance parameters is very urgent. In designing a greater capacity fuel tank for an internal combustion engine automobile, auto manufacturers only risk decreasing the...

Adopting a Conversion Design Approach to Maximize the Energy Density of Battery Packs in Electric Vehicles

“…The weight distribution influences the positioning of the center of gravity of the vehicle and hence its drivability [42,43]. A low center of gravity influences the dynamics and performance positively: the lower the center of gravity, the better the dynamic behaviour of the car [44].…”

Prospects and contradictions of the electrification of the European automotive industry: the role of European Union policy

“…The upmarket trend means that not only the weight of the average EV is increasing, but also all its other performance parameters are improving, with more acceleration, more top speed and more autonomy, requiring larger and larger batteries, which further add weight to the car. For instance the 85 kW battery of a Tesla model S weighed in 2017 544 kg for a total car weight of 2,188 kg (25% of the total weight), while the 22 kW battery of a Renault Zoe weighed 235 kg for a total car weight of 1,470 kg (16% of the total weight) [Berjoza andJurgena, (2017), p.1389]. Now doubling the average size of an EV battery has negative consequences for all its life cycle.…”

“…However, since heavier cars are more easily compliant with the regulation and since it is also easier to introduce greening technologies in more expensive cars, these weight-based targets have pushed the whole European automotive industry upmarket. If some reports and academic papers have already stressed the 'dangers' implied by weight-based targets for the greening of the automotive industry (T&E, 2007;Berjoza and Jurgena, 2017;Serrenho et al, 2017), I will provide in this paper an empiric analysis of how they have actually transformed the average car sold in Europe. I will also show how these changes have benefited premium carmakers, whose grip over the European market and institutions have increased during this period.…”

Assessment and Recommendations for a Fossil Free Future for Track Work Machinery

“…LFP are also popular in buses [54]. However, current automotive technology is not fully transferable to other sectors, notably due to technical properties [55][56][57]. For instance, ESS in the rail sector face high requirements in terms of ambient temperature [13], specific energy/energy density which influence on-board weight/space [58,59], as well as safety and approval regulations (e.g., fire protection, tunnel safety) [13,60,61].…”